An effective tool for learning the visual effects of rendering algorithms

Visual analysis is important to computer science students taking graphics courses. We created a tool called TERA to help students hone their visual analysis skills. We evaluated TERA's effectiveness by recording student performance on the visual identification portion of the midterm for two quarters. In the first class, students did not have access to TERA. In the second, they did. Students having access to TERA scored better on the visual identification portion of the midterm.